Door control mechanism

ABSTRACT

A door control mechanism for use with a pivoted door and associated frame, and a combination door, door frame and door control mechanism especially as embodied in a truck or cargo container. The control mechanism is comprised of identical camtype latches on opposite ends of a shaft rotatably connected to a pivoted door by bearing members engaged by the latches, and keepers secured to the door frame adjacent edges of the door that are transverse to the door pivot axis. The shaft can be turned about its longitudinal axis to engage and disengage the latches and keepers. Each cam or latch is symmetrical about the axis of the shaft and has a central U-shaped body portion which is welded to the shaft by welds running lengthwise of the shaft and two oppositely projecting forked portions. The keepers have two spaced post portions that are straddled by the forked portions of the cam when in a latching position. Tapered surfaces of the posts are cooperable with tapered surfaces of the forked portions during latching to shift the door into alignment with the frame and to prevent lateral shifting or distorting of the frame relative to the door after latching. One post portion of each keeper has projecting flange portions with concave surfaces that receive and cover ends of the associated cam, and retain the door in a closed position. The latching cams and keepers are constructed so they can be forged for economic manufacture.

United States Patent [15] 3,

Pastva [451 Oct. 3, 1972 DOOR CONTROL MECHANISM [57] ABSTRACT Inventor; J Pastvfl, Parma g A door control mechanism for use with a pivoted door and associated frame, and a combination door, door [73] Assigneet The Eastern Company Cleveland frame and door control mechanismespecially as em- Ohio bodied in a truck or cargo container. The control mechanism is comprised of identical cam-type latches [22] Ffled: March 1970 on opposite ends of a shaft rotatably connected to a 21 AWL 19,867 pivoted door by bearing members engaged by the latches, and keepers secured to the door frame adjacent edges of the door that are transverse to the [52] US. Cl ..292/218, 292/DIG. 32, 292/240 door pivot axis The Shaft can be turned about its [51] Int. Cl. ..E05c 3/04, E050 3/02 gitudina] axis to engage and disengage the latches and [58] Field of Search ..292/218, 213, 340, 240, 241, keepers. Each cam or latch is symmetrical about the 292/202 axis of the shaft and has a central U-shaped body por- 59 tion which is welded to the shaft by welds running lengthwise of the shaft and two oppositely projecting [56] References C'ted forked portions. The keepers have two spaced post UNITED STATES PATENTS portions that are straddled by the forked portions of the cam when in a latching position. Tapered surfaces Pastva of the posts are cooper'able tapered surfaces of 3,378,294 4/1968 Olander ..292/2l8 the f k d portions during latching to hift the door 3,017,674 1/1962 Brill ..292/218 X into alignment with the frame and to prevent lateral 3,099,473 7/1963 Pastva "292/240 shifting or distorting of the frame relative to the door 3,464,729 9/1969 Chambers ..292/2l8 after latching o post portion of each keeper has 3,329,456 7/1967 Olander ..,.292/340 X projecting flange portions with concave Surfaces that 2,558,824 7/1951 Dath ..292/218 X Primary ExaminerGeorge F. Mautz Assistant Examiner-Edward .1 McCarthy Attorney-Watts, l-loffmann, Fisher & Heinke receive and cover ends of the associated cam, and retain the door in a closed position. The latching cams and keepers areconstructed so they can be forged for economic manufacture.

8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDnms 1972 SHEET 2 BF 3 I INVENTOR. JOHN v. DASTVA we. Q/MQQJ ATTOENEYE noon CONTROL MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention This invention relates to a door control mechanism of the latch and keeper type for use with a pivoted door and frame, for example, with a door of the type used on trucks and truck trailers or on large cargo containers.

2. Description of the Prior Art Load carrying compartments such as truck trailers and cargo containers typically utilize pivoted doors as one end wall to facilitate loading and unloading. A lack of cross bracing at the door opening permits some distortion of the door frame and compartment when subjected to uneven support or load-induced stresses. Door control mechanisms are used with such doors to retain the doors closed and typically includes one or more lock rods extending the height of the door, a latching cam at each end of the rod or rods, and keepers on the door frame to receive the cams. Some of these mechanisms utilize latching cams with portions extending laterally on opposite sides of a lock rod to prevent racking, i.e., transverse distortion of the rectangular shape, of a truck van, truck trailer, or cargo container. Mechanisms of this type in which the latching cams are provided with forked portions that latch the door and also aid in aligning the door relative to a door frame are particularly advantageous and two such constructions are disclosed in my prior U.S. Letters Pat. Nos. 3,099,473 and 3,484,127, over which the present invention constitutes an improvement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention, a door control, latch mechanism of the type that latches a door closed, forcibly aligns the door with the door frame and maintains alignment under stress is provided which, in addition, is inexpensive to manufacture, utilizes identical parts for both upper and lower latches of a door, and isolates the latching portion of a latching cam against the application of external forces for greater security.

Basically, the mechanism comprises a shaft adapted to be secured to a door parallel to the door hinge, by suitable bearing supports that permit turning of the shaft about its longitudinal axis but prevent axial movement of the shaft, a shaft actuating handle and handle retainer, latching cams having U-shaped bodies abutting the bearing supports and welded to opposite ends of the shaft which ends are adapted to be located adjacent to but beyond opposite edges of the door by welds running lengthwise of the shaft, and keepers secured to the door frame and cooperable with the latching cams when the shaft is rotated to engage the cams and keepers to latch the door. Cooperable cam surfaces on the latching cams and keepers force the door into alignment during latching and maintain alignment thereafter. Through maintenance of alignment, by virtue of the cooperation between the shaft, bearing supports and latch mechanism construction, the door reinforces or cross braces the load carrying compartment, inhibiting distortion and increasing the strength of the compartment.

A feature of the present invention is the provision of a cam latch of the type referred to with portions that project in opposite directions from a supporting shaft to cooperate on two sides of the shaft with a keeper,

and which can be used on either of the two opposite ends of a shaft and on doors that pivot in opposite directions. By virtue of this feature, only one cam part need be manufactured. The cam part is further shaped so that it can be forged and therefore manufactured more economically than parts that must be cast.

In the preferred construction of the cam latch referred to above, the U-shaped body portion in which the supporting shaft-is received and has two oppositely extending forked portions each having opposed camming surfaces that converge toward the shaft. Each forked portion is cooperable with one of two spaced portions of a keeper so that when the latch and shaft are turned to a latching position one of the forked portions latches the associated door in a closed position against the door frame and cam surfaces of both forked portions cooperate with the keeper to shift the door relative to the frame into alignment and/or inhibit relative shifting of the door and frame out of alignment in the plane of the door. A novel keeper construction is utilized that receives and covers one forked end of the latch member when the latch and keeper are in a latching relationship. The keeper has two spaced post portions, extending outward from a base portion, to be straddled by the forked portions of the latching cam. Both post portions have side surfaces that converge in opposing directions. One post portion has a latch retaining flange extending laterally from opposite sides of the post portion and spaced from the base portion, with recesses facing the base portion to receive and cover upturned ends of one fork portion of the cam latch. The other post portion is tapered outwardly from the base portion along the converging side surfaces. The converging side surfaces of said one post portion and the outwardly tapered surface portions of said other post portion shift the door during rotation of the latch into latching position if the door is misaligned.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the detailed description, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the back end of a truck trailer showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially exploded, of the door mechanism of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a latching cam embodying the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of a keeper embodying the present invention and cooperable with the cam latch of FIG. 3;

- FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the latching cam and keeper of FIGS. 3 and 4 as viewed from the plane of line 5-5 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the upper part of a door control mechanism embodying the present invention, illustrating the latching cam and keeper interengaged and a bearing member for securing a lock rod and the latching cam to a door; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the mechanism of FIG. 6.

3 DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present invention, as embodied in a truck trailer, is illustrated in FIG. 1. As shown, a door control mechanism A is in part secured to a pivoted rear door B and in part secured to a door frame C of a truck trailer D. The door B is secured to the frame C by hinges E along the outer vertical edge. The truck trailer D, in the usualfashion, has a second rear door B and a second door control mechanism A'. The door control mechanism A is identical to the mechanism 'A, except that it is a mirror image. According y, Only the mechanism A need be described in detail.

The door control mechanism A includes a pivotable shaft or lock rod that extends vertically along the outside surface of the door B frombelow a lower edge 11 to above an upper edge 12 of the door; upper and lower bearing members 13, 14 and intermediate bearing brackets 16, 18 that secure the lock rod 10 to the door for pivotable movement about the longitudinal axis of the rod; a handle 20 secured to and extending laterally from the rod; a handle retainer comprised of a seal plate and seal pin assembly 22 for securing the handle in a fixed position relative to the door B; upper and lower latching cams or cam members 24, 25 on opposite ends of the shaft or rod 10, located beyond the upper and lower edges of the door; and upperand lower keepers 26, 27, which are secured to the door frame C and cooperate respectively with the upper and lower latching cams to retain the door B in a closed condition and to align and maintain alignment of the door with the frame C. The lock rod 10 can be pivoted by the handle 20 to pivot the latching cams 24, 25 into and out of engagement with the keepers 26, 27.

The latching cams 24, 25 are identical, and only the latching cam 24 will be described in detail. As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the latch 24 includes a central U-shaped body portion and two forked portions 31, 32 extending from the central body portion in opposite directions. The latch is symmetrical about a central plane that includes the central axis of the latch, which coincides with the central axis of the lock rod 10 when the latch is assembled to the rod. In the preferred embodiment, in which the lock rod is cylindrical in shape, the central body portion 30 of the latch is in the form of a section of a circular cylinder, open axially, forming a recess 36 that extends the lengthof the central body and is adapted to receive the lock rod 10. The recess 36 is at a maximum width at the axial opening-The central body portion 30 extends axially in one direction beyond the forked portions to form a partial boss 37 that serves as a bearing surface. Each forked portion 31, 32 has two projections 38, 39 and 40, 41, respectively. Each projection 38, 39 has a surface 42, 43, respectively, mutually opposed to the other and which together converge toward the central body. Similarly, each projection 40, 41 has a surface 45, 46, respectively, mutuallyopposed to the other, which together converge toward the central body. The projections 38, 39, 40 and 41 are curved in a direction away from that in which the axial opening faces and all terminate in a common plane that intersects the central body portion 30, as will be evident from FIG. 5.The curvature of the fork projections is insufficient to produce a re-entrant angle. This, plus the shape of the recess 36 of the central body portion, which is widest at the opening, as

well as other particular aspects of the construction evident from the drawings, makes the part particularly suitable for forging. The latch is assembled to the rod 10 by positioning the end ofthe rod within the recess 36'and welding the rod and latch together at the weld portions 48, 49, shown in FIG. 5. 1 I

The keepers 26, 27 that cooperate with the latching cams are identical to each other and only the keeper 26 will be described in detail. The keeper 26 includes a base'portion 52 with a flat bottom surface 53 for placement against the doorC aligned with and directly or posite from the associated cam-The keepers are either welded to the door frame or are provided with apertures in the base to facilitate attachment with fasteners. Two spaced posts or post portions 56, 57 extend outwardly from the base portion adjacent opposite ends thereof and are constructed to be straddled by the forked portions 31, 32 of the associated cam latch and to permit pivoting of the cam latch relative to the posts, into and out of a straddling position. The post 56 has two side surfaces 59, 60 that are perpendicular to the bottom surface 53 of the base portion and that converge toward each other in the direction of the other post 57. The post 57 has two side surfaces 62, 63 that converge toward one another in the direction of the other post 56 and which also slope toward one another in an outward direction from the base portion 52 so that the post tapers outwardly. The side surfaces 59, 69 and 62, 62 are adapted to cooperate with the inclined surfaces 42, 43 and 45, 46,-respectively, of the associated cam latch, as necessary, if the door is out of accurate alignment or if it tends to move out of alignment after the cam latch has been placed in a position to retain the door in a closed position. More particularly, as the cam latch 24 is'rotated about the central axis 34 of the, cam body portion during latching, both forked portions 31, 32 will'cooperate with the posts 56, 57 of the keeper, if the door is out. of alignment. One of the inclined surfaces 42 or 43 of the projections 38, 39 on the cam latch will act against a side surface 59 or 60 to force the door on which the latch is carried'up or down into a predetermined alignment. At the same time, one of the surfaces 45, 46 of the projections 40, 41 will cooperate with one of the tapered surfaces 62, 63 of the post 57 to assist in forcing the door into a predetermined alignment. Once the cam latch is turned to a locking position, the same surfaces will cooperate to restrain movement of the door relative to the frame C in the plane of the door. With the door so restrained against movement, the door becomes a structural reinforcing member for the truck body D and adds rigidity to the entire assembly.

The door B is held in closed position bya cam latch retaining flange 66 on the post 56 of each keeper. The retaining flange limits the rotation of the cam latch and prevents outward movement of the cam relative to the frame C in the absence of latch rotation. The retaining flange 66 extends in opposite .directions from the post 56, laterally with respect to the direction in which the side surfaces 59, 60 converge. It is spaced from the base portion 52 a distance sufficient to receive the projections 38, 39 that form the forked portion 31 ofthe associated cam latch, yet close enough to the base portion to hold the door B tightly against the frame C and preferably close enough to limit rotation of the cam latch and lock rod before the handle 20 is against the door B so that a slight torsion loading can be applied to the lock rod by the handle 20 when the handle is forced into a position where is is retained by the seal plate and seal pin assembly 22. Concave surface portions 68, 69 are formed in the surface of the cam latch retaining flange that faces the base portion of the keeper, on opposite sides of the post portion, between spaced, depending, transversely extending, shoulder portions 68a, 68b and'69a, 69b. In the preferred embodiment shown, the concave surface portions and the shoulder portions are formed of straight-line elements extending substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the side surfaces 59, 60 of the post converge. The concave surface portions are constructed to receive the upturned ends of the projections 38, 39 of the forked portion 31 of the latching cam. As a result, the end of the forked portion 31 is covered by the flange portion 66 and is located inwardly of the adjacent end of the keeper, between the shoulder portions, isolated against direct application of outside forces. As will be apparent from the above description and the construction shown in the drawings, the keeper members 26, 27 are of a shape suitable for forging and therefore can be manufactured relatively inexpensively.

The upper and lower bearing members 13, 14 that support and secure the lock rod 10 to the door B are identical in construction and only the upper bearing member 13 will be described in detail. The bearing member is formed of a back plate 72 and a cover plate 74 (See FIGS. 6 and 7), which are generally rectangular in plan and which are constructed to nest with one another and form a tubular passageway for the lock rod 10. The back plate 72 has a relatively large, flat portion 75 and at one end includes a short, partial, cylindrical, cavity 76, bounded along two opposite sides by extending flange portions, one of which is shown at 77 in FIG. 7, that in part cross the axis of the cavity 76 and in part extend parallel to the flat portion 75 in a plane spaced therefrom by the diameter of the lock rod 10. The cover plate 74 is complementary in shape so that the two plates together form a tubular passageway the length of the bearing member. Thus, a longitudinal cavity 81 extends a substantial length of thecover plate in alignment with the cavity 76, and longitudinal flange portions 83, 84 on opposite sides of the cavity 81 lie against the flat portion 75 and extend in part across the depth of the cavity to merge with a flat portion 84 of the cover plate that lies against the external flange portions of the plate 72 that are on opposite sides of the cavity 76. Four apertures 86 are formed in the bearing member to receive fasteners for securing the bearing member to the door B with the flat portion 75 flush against the outer door surface. The bearing member 13 is located directly adjacent the upper edge 12 of the door B and the lock rod 10 extends a slight distance upward from The bearing member. The latching cam 24 secured to the end of the lock rod is closely adjacent the upper edge of the bearing member, so that the partial boss 37 of the cam or latch is supported by an upper edge 87 of the bearing member to limit end play of the lock rod relative to the door B. The lower bearing member 14 similarly limits upward axial movement of the lock rod 10 relative to the door and the two bearing members thereby locate the rod in a substantially fixed axial position, but free to rotate or turn about its longitudinal axis.

Each additional intermediate bearing bracket 16, 18 is comprised of a back plate 94 and a lock rod bracket 95 having a U-shaped portion 96 and two extending ear portions 97, 98. The U-shaped portion is partially cylindrical and the width is substantially equal to the diameter of the lock rod 10. An aperture 99 is provided through each ear portion 97, 98 and the back plate 94. The back plate is located between the lock rod 10 and the door B, while the lock rod bracket extends over the lock rod and against the back plate. Both are secured to the door B by suitable fasteners through the apertures 99. The various parts comprising the upper and lowerbearing members 12, 14 and intermediate bearing brackets 16, 18 are metal stampings, suitably of cold rolled steel.

The handle 20 includes an elongated, flat, metal piece 104 pivoted at one end to a handle clip 106 by a pivot pin 107 that extends through apertures in the handle clip and handle piece. The clip is U-shaped so that it extends over an upper edge of the handle piece and on two sides thereof. It is welded to the lock rod 10 so that it will transmit movement form the handle to the lock rod. A clearance is provided between the handle and clip to permit limited pivoting of the handle about the pin 107. Thus, the handle can be moved in a vertical plane a slight distance to release it from the seal plate and seal pin assembly 22, without moving the lock rod 10. Movement of the handle toward or away from the door will turn the lock rod 10 about its longitudinal axis to rotate the upper and lower latching cams 24, 25.

The seal plate and retainer pin assembly 22 hold the handle 20 in a fixed position adjacent the door B when the cams 24, 25 are engaged with the keepers 26, 27. The assembly includes a handle retainer back plate 1 l0 and a handle retainer clip 1 11 that are welded together to form a seal plate subassembly that has a lower aperture 112 and an upper aperture (not shown) for securing the subassembly to the door B. A seal pin 115 is pivotally supported on a bushing 116 that extends through the upper aperture of the seal plate subassembly. The handle retainer clip 111 and seal pin 115 are each shaped so that together they form a recess 1 17 that receives the handle piece 104 when the cams are engaged with the keepers. The handle can be removed from the seal plate and seal pin assembly by pivoting the seal pin member about the bushing 116 and then lifting the handle from the recess formed by the seal plate subassembly. The handle can then be pulled away from the door to rotate the lock rod 10 about its longitudinal axis.

From the above description it will be apparent that improved structure has been disclosed in which a door can be readily latched in a closed, aligned position relative to a door frame, and in particular a novel and improved door control mechanism has been provided with parts that are inexpensive to fabricate, in which the cam latches, keepers and bearing members at one end of the mechanism are identical to those at the other end so that a minimum number of different parts are required and in which the keeper receives and covers the latching end of the latching cam. At the same time, the cams and keepers have been constructed to effectively align and/or maintain alignment of an associated door with the door frame.

While a preferred embodiment of this invention has been been described in detail, it will be apparent that certain modifications or alternations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A door control mechanism of a type used to latch a pivoted door in a closed position, said mechanism comprising two keeper members adapted to be secured to a door frame adjacent two opposite edge portions that extend transversely to the pivot axis of a pivoted door, a shaft adapted to be secured to such a door with its longitudinal axis spaced from and parallel with the pivoted axis of the door, two latch members each secured to an opposite end of said shaft and cooperable with said keeper members for securing a door to which the shaft is attached in a closed position, means for securing said shaft to a door so theshaft can turn about its longitudinal axis, means connecting to the shaft for turning it abut said axis, said latch members each having a U-shaped body portion partly surrounding the end of said shaft to which it is attached and forked portions projecting in generally opposite directions transversely of said shaft, each forked portion having opposed surfaces that converge toward said shaft, and said keeper members each having a base portion for attachment to a door frame or the like and two spaced post portions extending outward from the base portion and constructed and arranged to be straddled by the forked portions of the associated latch member when said shaft is turned to a latching position, both of said post portions having side surfaces that converge in opposing directions, one of said post portions of each of said keeper members having a latch member retaining flange extending laterally to opposite sides of the post portion'and spaced from the base portion and provided with concave surface portions facing the base portion adapted to receive ends of one forked portion of the associated latch member when the forked portions straddle the post portions and thereby prevent pivoting of the door, the other of said post portions being tapered upward from the base portion along said converging side surfaces, both of said forked portions and post portions serving to inhibit relative shifting of the door and frame in the plane of the door.

2. A door control mechanism of a type used to latch a pivoted door in a closed position, said mechanism comprising a keeper member adapted to be secured to a door to adjacent an edge portion that extends transversely to the pivot axis of a pivoted door, a shaft adapted to be secured to such a dor with its longitudinal axis spaced from and parallel with the pivoted axis of the door, a latch member secured to one end of said shaft and cooperable with said keeper member for securing a door to which the shaft is attached in a closed position, means for securing said shaft to a door so the shaft can turn about its longitudinal axis, means connected to the shaft for turning it abut said axis, said latch member having curved forked portions projecting .in generally opposite directions transversely of said shaft curving toward a common direction and having opposed surfaces that converge toward said shaft, said keeper member having a base-portion for attachment to a door frame or the like and two spaced post portions extending outward from the base portion cooperable in a wedging or camming relationship with the oppositely projecting forked portions of the latch member when said shaft is turned to a latching position, a latch member retaining flange with portions extending laterally in opposite directions from one post por tion spaced from the base portion and having a concave surface facing the base member adapted to receive and cover an end portion of one of the forked portions of the latch member when the latch member is in a latching position with the keeper member,'both of said forked portions and post portions serving to inhibit relative shifting of the door and frame in the plane of the door.

3. A forged cam latch and keeper combination for a door control mechanism of the type used to latch a pivoted door in a closed position, said cam latch having a central body portion with an axially open recess that is in part cylindrical, the maximum width of the recess being at the axial opening and said recess being adapted to receive a cylindrical portion of a shaft, two forked portions extending from said central body portion in generally opposite directions, each forked portion being formed of two projections with mutually opposed surfaces that converge in a direction toward the central body portion, said forked portions at least in part curving in a direction away from that in which the axial opening faces to an extent insufficient to form a re-entrant angle with the body portion and terminating in a common plane that intersects the central body portion, and said keeper having a base portion for attachment to a door frame or the like and two spaced posts extending outward from the base portion and constructed and arranged to be straddled by the forked portions of the cam latch and to permit pivoting of the cam latch relative to the keeper into and out of a straddling position, both of said posts having side surfaces that converge in opposing directions, one of said posts having a cam latch retaining flange extending laterally from opposite sides of the post, spaced from the base portion, with concave surface portions facing the base portion and adapted to receive and cover the ends of the two projections of one of the fork portions of the cam latch when the fork portion straddles the post, the other of said posts being tapered upward from the base portion along said converging side surfaces.

4. A door control mechanism of a type used to secure a pivoted-door of a truck, cargo container, or the like, in a closed position in an associated door frame or the like, said mechanism comprising a shaft adapted to be secured to such a pivoted door with its longitudinal axis spaced from and parallel with the pivotal axis of the door, means connected to said shaft for turning it about its longitudinal axis, two keeper members each having a base portion adapted to be secured to the associated door frame adjacent to opposite edge portions thatextend transversely to the pivotal axis of the door and spaced portions extending outwardly of the base portion having oppositely facing side surfaces, one of said outwardly extending portions of each of said keeper members having a transverse portion spaced from the base portion, two latch members each having a U- shaped body portion partly surrounding an opposite end of said shaft and welded thereto by welds extending lengthwise of the shaft and having oppositely projecting portions interengageable with said transverse portions of said keeper members for securing the door to which the shaft is attached in a closed position and oppositely facing side surfaces on said projecting portions extending generally transversely of the shaft interengageable with said oppositely facing side surfaces of said keeper members for preventing relative movement between said keeper and latch members axially of the shaft, and means including bearing members at least partially surrounding the shaft adjacent to said latch members for securing said shaft to the door and preventing relative movement between said latch and bearing members axially of the shaft.

5. A door control mechanism of a type used to secure a pivoted door of a truck, cargo container, or the like, in a closed position in an associated door frame or the like, said mechanism comprising a shaft adapted to be secured to such a pivoted door with its longitudinal axis spaced from and parallel with the pivotal axis of the door, means connected to said shaft for turning it about its longitudinal axis, two keeper members each having a base portion adapted to be secured to the associated door frame adjacent to opposite edge portions that extend transversely to the pivotal axis of the door and spaced post portions extending outwardly of the base portion having oppositely facing side surfaces, one of said outwardly extending post portions of each of said keeper members having a transverse portion spaced from the base portion, two latch members each having a U-shaped body portion partly surrounding an opposite end of said shaft and welded thereto by welds ex tending lengthwise of the shaft, and having oppositely projecting forked portions at least one of which is interengageable with said transverse portions of said keeper members for securing the door to which the shaft is attached in a closed position and facing side surfaces on said forked portions extending generally transversely of the shaft interengageable with said side surfaces of said post portions of said keeper members for preventing relative movement between said keeper and latch members axially of the shaft, and means including bearing members at least partially surrounding the shaft adjacent to said latch members for securing said shaft to the door and preventing relative movement between said latch and bearing members axially of the shaft.

6. A door control mechanism of a type used to secure a pivoted door of a truck, cargo container, or the like, in a closed position in an associated door frame or the like, said mechanism comprising a shaft adapted to be secured to such a pivoted door with its longitudinal axis spaced from and parallel with the pivotal axis of the door, means connected to said shaft for turning it about its longitudinal axis, two keeper members each having a base portion adapted to be secured to the associated door frame adjacent to opposite edge portions that extend transversely to the pivotal axis of the door and spaced post portions extending outwardly of the base portion having oppositely facing side surfaces, one of said outwardly extending post portions of each of said keeper members having a transverse portion spaced from the base portion and provided with concave surfaces facing said base portion, two latch members each having a U-shaped body portion partly surrounding an opposite end of said shaft and welded thereto by welds extending lengthwise of the shaft and having oppositely projecting forked portions at least one of which is interengageable with said concave surfaces of said transverse portions of said keeper members for securing the door to which the shaft is attached in a closed position and facing side surfaces on said forked portions extending generally transversely of the shaft interengageable with said side surfaces of said post portions of said keeper members for preventing relative movement between said keeper and latch members axially of the shaft, and means including bearing members at least partially surrounding the shaft adjacent to said latch members for securing said shaft to the door and preventing relative movement between said latch and bearing members axially of the shaft.

7. In combination a cargo-type container having a rectangular access opening, a door pivoted to said container at one side of said opening, a shaft, means connected to said shaft for turning it about its longitudinal axis, two keeper members each having a base portion secured to the container at opposite sides of the opening extending transversely to the pivotal axis of the door and spaced portions extending outwardly of the base portion, one of the outwardly extending spaced portions of each of the keeper members having a transverse portion spaced from the base portion and at least one having oppositely facing side surfaces, two latch members each having a U-shaped body portion partly surrounding an opposite end of the shaft and welded thereto by welds extending lengthwise of the shaft and having oppositely projecting portions at least one of which has oppositely facing side surfaces extending generally transversely of the shaft, means including bearing members for least partially surrounding the shaft adjacent to the latch members securing the shaft to the door at a location spaced projecting and parallel with shaft pivotal axis of the door for rotation about its longitudinal axis, one of the projecting portions of each of the latch members being engageable with one of the transverse portions of a keeper member for securing the door in a closed position and said oppositely facing side surfaces of said keeper and latch members being engageable when the shaft is turned to door latching position whereby relative movement axially of the shaft between the keeper and latch members is prevented by the engaged oppositely facing side surfaces and between the shaft and door by engaged sides of the latch and bearing members.

8. A door control mechanism of a type used to secure a pivoted door of a truck, cargo container, or the like, in a closed position in an associated door frane or the like, said mechanism comprising a shaft adapted to be secured to such a door for rotation about its longitudinal axis spaced from and parallel with the pivoted axis of the door, means connecting to the shaft for turning it about said axis, at least one keeper member having a base portion adapted to be secured to a door frame associated with the door adjacent to an edge portion thereof that extends transversely to the pivotal axis of a pivoted door, at least one latch member secured to an end of said shaft and interengageable with said keeper member for securing the door to which the shaft is attached in a closed position, said latch member having a forked portion projecting transversely of the shaft sides of the post portion and spaced from the base portion and provided with concave surface portions facing the base portion adapted to receive ends of the forked portion of the latch member when the forked portion straddles the post portion and thereby prevents pivoting of the door. 

1. A door control mechanism of a type used to latch a pivoted door in a closed position, said mechanism comprising two keeper members adapted to be secured to a door frame adjacent two opposite edge portions that extend transversely to the pivot axis of a pivoted door, a shaft adapted to be secured to such a door with its longitudinal axis spaced from and parallel with the pivoted axis of the door, two latch members each secured to an opposite end of said shaft and cooperable with said keeper members for securing a door to which the shaft is attached in a closed position, means for securing said shaft to a door so the shaft can turn about its longitudinal axis, means connecting to the shaft for turning it abut said axis, said latch members each having a U-shaped body portion partly surrounding the end of said shaft to which it is attached and forked portions projecting in generally opposite directions transversely of said shaft, each forked portion having opposed surfaces that converge toward said shaft, and said keeper members each having a base portion for attachment to a door frame or the like and two spaced post portions extending outward from the base portion and constructEd and arranged to be straddled by the forked portions of the associated latch member when said shaft is turned to a latching position, both of said post portions having side surfaces that converge in opposing directions, one of said post portions of each of said keeper members having a latch member retaining flange extending laterally to opposite sides of the post portion and spaced from the base portion and provided with concave surface portions facing the base portion adapted to receive ends of one forked portion of the associated latch member when the forked portions straddle the post portions and thereby prevent pivoting of the door, the other of said post portions being tapered upward from the base portion along said converging side surfaces, both of said forked portions and post portions serving to inhibit relative shifting of the door and frame in the plane of the door.
 2. A door control mechanism of a type used to latch a pivoted door in a closed position, said mechanism comprising a keeper member adapted to be secured to a door to adjacent an edge portion that extends transversely to the pivot axis of a pivoted door, a shaft adapted to be secured to such a dor with its longitudinal axis spaced from and parallel with the pivoted axis of the door, a latch member secured to one end of said shaft and cooperable with said keeper member for securing a door to which the shaft is attached in a closed position, means for securing said shaft to a door so the shaft can turn about its longitudinal axis, means connected to the shaft for turning it abut said axis, said latch member having curved forked portions projecting in generally opposite directions transversely of said shaft curving toward a common direction and having opposed surfaces that converge toward said shaft, said keeper member having a base portion for attachment to a door frame or the like and two spaced post portions extending outward from the base portion cooperable in a wedging or camming relationship with the oppositely projecting forked portions of the latch member when said shaft is turned to a latching position, a latch member retaining flange with portions extending laterally in opposite directions from one post portion spaced from the base portion and having a concave surface facing the base member adapted to receive and cover an end portion of one of the forked portions of the latch member when the latch member is in a latching position with the keeper member, both of said forked portions and post portions serving to inhibit relative shifting of the door and frame in the plane of the door.
 3. A forged cam latch and keeper combination for a door control mechanism of the type used to latch a pivoted door in a closed position, said cam latch having a central body portion with an axially open recess that is in part cylindrical, the maximum width of the recess being at the axial opening and said recess being adapted to receive a cylindrical portion of a shaft, two forked portions extending from said central body portion in generally opposite directions, each forked portion being formed of two projections with mutually opposed surfaces that converge in a direction toward the central body portion, said forked portions at least in part curving in a direction away from that in which the axial opening faces to an extent insufficient to form a re-entrant angle with the body portion and terminating in a common plane that intersects the central body portion, and said keeper having a base portion for attachment to a door frame or the like and two spaced posts extending outward from the base portion and constructed and arranged to be straddled by the forked portions of the cam latch and to permit pivoting of the cam latch relative to the keeper into and out of a straddling position, both of said posts having side surfaces that converge in opposing directions, one of said posts having a cam latch retaining flange extending laterally from opposite sides of the post, spaced from the base portion, with concave surfAce portions facing the base portion and adapted to receive and cover the ends of the two projections of one of the fork portions of the cam latch when the fork portion straddles the post, the other of said posts being tapered upward from the base portion along said converging side surfaces.
 4. A door control mechanism of a type used to secure a pivoted door of a truck, cargo container, or the like, in a closed position in an associated door frame or the like, said mechanism comprising a shaft adapted to be secured to such a pivoted door with its longitudinal axis spaced from and parallel with the pivotal axis of the door, means connected to said shaft for turning it about its longitudinal axis, two keeper members each having a base portion adapted to be secured to the associated door frame adjacent to opposite edge portions that extend transversely to the pivotal axis of the door and spaced portions extending outwardly of the base portion having oppositely facing side surfaces, one of said outwardly extending portions of each of said keeper members having a transverse portion spaced from the base portion, two latch members each having a U-shaped body portion partly surrounding an opposite end of said shaft and welded thereto by welds extending lengthwise of the shaft and having oppositely projecting portions interengageable with said transverse portions of said keeper members for securing the door to which the shaft is attached in a closed position and oppositely facing side surfaces on said projecting portions extending generally transversely of the shaft interengageable with said oppositely facing side surfaces of said keeper members for preventing relative movement between said keeper and latch members axially of the shaft, and means including bearing members at least partially surrounding the shaft adjacent to said latch members for securing said shaft to the door and preventing relative movement between said latch and bearing members axially of the shaft.
 5. A door control mechanism of a type used to secure a pivoted door of a truck, cargo container, or the like, in a closed position in an associated door frame or the like, said mechanism comprising a shaft adapted to be secured to such a pivoted door with its longitudinal axis spaced from and parallel with the pivotal axis of the door, means connected to said shaft for turning it about its longitudinal axis, two keeper members each having a base portion adapted to be secured to the associated door frame adjacent to opposite edge portions that extend transversely to the pivotal axis of the door and spaced post portions extending outwardly of the base portion having oppositely facing side surfaces, one of said outwardly extending post portions of each of said keeper members having a transverse portion spaced from the base portion, two latch members each having a U-shaped body portion partly surrounding an opposite end of said shaft and welded thereto by welds extending lengthwise of the shaft, and having oppositely projecting forked portions at least one of which is interengageable with said transverse portions of said keeper members for securing the door to which the shaft is attached in a closed position and facing side surfaces on said forked portions extending generally transversely of the shaft interengageable with said side surfaces of said post portions of said keeper members for preventing relative movement between said keeper and latch members axially of the shaft, and means including bearing members at least partially surrounding the shaft adjacent to said latch members for securing said shaft to the door and preventing relative movement between said latch and bearing members axially of the shaft.
 6. A door control mechanism of a type used to secure a pivoted door of a truck, cargo container, or the like, in a closed position in an associated door frame or the like, said mechanism comprising a shaft adapted to be secured to such a pivoted door with its longitudinal axis spaced from and parallel with the Pivotal axis of the door, means connected to said shaft for turning it about its longitudinal axis, two keeper members each having a base portion adapted to be secured to the associated door frame adjacent to opposite edge portions that extend transversely to the pivotal axis of the door and spaced post portions extending outwardly of the base portion having oppositely facing side surfaces, one of said outwardly extending post portions of each of said keeper members having a transverse portion spaced from the base portion and provided with concave surfaces facing said base portion, two latch members each having a U-shaped body portion partly surrounding an opposite end of said shaft and welded thereto by welds extending lengthwise of the shaft and having oppositely projecting forked portions at least one of which is interengageable with said concave surfaces of said transverse portions of said keeper members for securing the door to which the shaft is attached in a closed position and facing side surfaces on said forked portions extending generally transversely of the shaft interengageable with said side surfaces of said post portions of said keeper members for preventing relative movement between said keeper and latch members axially of the shaft, and means including bearing members at least partially surrounding the shaft adjacent to said latch members for securing said shaft to the door and preventing relative movement between said latch and bearing members axially of the shaft.
 7. In combination a cargo-type container having a rectangular access opening, a door pivoted to said container at one side of said opening, a shaft, means connected to said shaft for turning it about its longitudinal axis, two keeper members each having a base portion secured to the container at opposite sides of the opening extending transversely to the pivotal axis of the door and spaced portions extending outwardly of the base portion, one of the outwardly extending spaced portions of each of the keeper members having a transverse portion spaced from the base portion and at least one having oppositely facing side surfaces, two latch members each having a U-shaped body portion partly surrounding an opposite end of the shaft and welded thereto by welds extending lengthwise of the shaft and having oppositely projecting portions at least one of which has oppositely facing side surfaces extending generally transversely of the shaft, means including bearing members for least partially surrounding the shaft adjacent to the latch members securing the shaft to the door at a location spaced projecting and parallel with shaft pivotal axis of the door for rotation about its longitudinal axis, one of the projecting portions of each of the latch members being engageable with one of the transverse portions of a keeper member for securing the door in a closed position and said oppositely facing side surfaces of said keeper and latch members being engageable when the shaft is turned to door latching position whereby relative movement axially of the shaft between the keeper and latch members is prevented by the engaged oppositely facing side surfaces and between the shaft and door by engaged sides of the latch and bearing members.
 8. A door control mechanism of a type used to secure a pivoted door of a truck, cargo container, or the like, in a closed position in an associated door frane or the like, said mechanism comprising a shaft adapted to be secured to such a door for rotation about its longitudinal axis spaced from and parallel with the pivoted axis of the door, means connecting to the shaft for turning it about said axis, at least one keeper member having a base portion adapted to be secured to a door frame associated with the door adjacent to an edge portion thereof that extends transversely to the pivotal axis of a pivoted door, at least one latch member secured to an end of said shaft and interengageable with said keeper member for securing the door to which the shaft is attached in a closed Position, said latch member having a forked portion projecting transversely of the shaft and having opposed surfaces that converge toward the shaft, and said keeper member having a post portion extending outward from the base portion and constructed and arranged to be straddled by the forked portion of the latch member when the latch member is in latching position, said post portion having side surfaces that converge in opposing directions and a latch member retaining flange extending laterally to opposite sides of the post portion and spaced from the base portion and provided with concave surface portions facing the base portion adapted to receive ends of the forked portion of the latch member when the forked portion straddles the post portion and thereby prevents pivoting of the door. 